Reportage: Archana Masih. Photograph: Seema Pant. Design: Dominic Xavier, Rajesh Karkera

Vikram's parents received the news of his death the same day.

No one was at home when two officers arrived at their doorstep that afternoon. When Mrs Batra, a schoolteacher, came home and her neighbours told her about the visitors -- she screamed.

Army officers would only come home if there was bad news, she thought, and prayed fervently before dialling her husband's number.

When Mr Batra reached home and saw the officers, he doubted Vikram was alive.

He told the two colonels to wait, went inside and bowed his head in the pooja room first.

When he came out, one officer stepped out, held his hand and said: 'Batrasaab, Vikram Batra is no more.'

Mr Batra collapsed.

The next day, his son's body received a hero's welcome and was cremated with full military honors.

In their sorrow, the family drew strength from Lord Rama, whose twins Luv and Kush were the inspiration for the pet names of the Batra boys.

"Our child had captured three peaks, he had taken the nation by storm and suddenly he was no more," says Kamal Batra, rivulets of tears flowing down her cheek.

"But when God gives you a mortal blow, he gives you the strength to cope with the grief. Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed four sons for the country. Maybe there was some reason why God gave me twins -- one he had marked for the country and one for me."